The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-03-02
An Exceedingly Interesting Article
which was Written by DIR. Esnac
Branch of Abbeville for the ''PeO-
pies Gazette Monthly Publ.
cntiOn at AbbevilIe, in November,
lS53

the reader or auditor against one side of the
question, and in favor of the other by
course of ridicule at the very 2utest. .,.,o
We have certainly misconcelvcd an article
In the last July number of the Quarterly
Review, If we have not precisely such n case
In the discussion anpertaning to the l'onr.
bon question: and although we may not feel
able to grapple with the mighty intellect
that conceived that article, yet IT. Is our priVi-
lege to take the other side Of the question,
and see what we can make OF 1t; and In "de-
resort to ridicule. OF whatever else we may be
guilty. We now affirm, once for all, that
whatever we may say on the subject under
consideration, will be the result of mature
dclibemtion, and with the fullest conviction
of its truth.
In the first place, then, we deny that the
Rev. EleaZur Williams has solitary drop OF
Indian blood flowing In his veins. We have
seen him, conversed with him, heard him
preach, and have lived IN the immediate
vicinity-within u mile Of the old Oneida
Church-the one Of which he was Pastor for
many years. lls looks, appearance, the
whole contour of his face-in n word. his
whole physiognomy contradict the notion
from "Alpha to Omega" that he is an Indian,
either In part, or as a whole. Mr.. Williams
boarded with brother Of ours on one occa-
sion for period of nine months, and he, as
we'll as hfs wife, confirm the truth Of this
statement; and at the hazard of appearing
cs0tistlcnl, we will here remark that the cyl
dence afforded by our brother and his intelli.
gent and observant lady upon a subject or
this kind, is entitled to the fullest credit.
They, aS well as ourSelf have been acquainted
ty years. But again: Mr.. Williams has
been examined, again and again, by some OF
the most scientific naturalists of the age, and
to n man they have invariably given II as
their opinion that he Is entirely destitute OF
Indian blood. We may refer TO this subject
again, before we close.
1t is our deliberate opinion, that when the
question of his Indian extraction is settled
,Iba 10 90 shown
all Indian, his claim to the Dauphinship Is at
least half proved. For one-half, indeed al
most the whole OF the argument against MS
claim. or the claim his friends set up for him,
proceeds from the assumption that he Is an
Indian. ~
But the veracty of the Rev. Mr.. Williams
must be called In question by his opponents,
in order to make out u feasible argument
against him. .,
From an acquaintance with him, as well
personally as by reputation. we aver: that
not only his Christian character. but MS I'M
eXceptionable department IN every respect,
and In all of the relations OF life, Is above re
proach. His Christian piety Is undoubted 6y
all who know him, so far as we believe. W. e
the simplicity OF devoted Christian, to n
band Of worshipping Oneida Indians, with no
prospect of reward beyond plttance rom
the Episcopal Missionary Treasury, together
with the prospect OF reward beyond the
grave. We have remarked that he boarded
In the family Of our brother for nine months.
and not the slightest deviation was observed
In his Ckisiian, moral, or general department,
which would initiate against tho BELIEF ihat
he was indeed and In truth what he professcu
to bc-a Christian Minister.
But the Prince de Joinville and Mr.. Will
liams are at issue upon Il question of veracity,
and it becomes necessary to crimnate one or
the other of prevaricatiOn and because The
latter is an obscure Iroquios Christian Mis-
sionary, and the former has little Royal
blood circulating in his veins, and the whole
French nation would rise up In arms II ms
veracity was doubted, the issue must be met
by q fiat denial of the account given by Mr.
Williams o: the interview between himself
and the French Prince. We regard this ns
exceedingly ungenerous. to say the least Of It,
Let us refer to the trne state of the case.
The Rev. Eleazur williams Is Protestant
has not only Christian profession, but
commcndablc zeal, and q consistent practice
in the cause of his Divine Master to sustain
his standing In the Church Of his choice
His account of his interview with the Prince
dc Joinvillc Is as follows:-
The Prince came to this country in 1871, and
soon after he landed In the Atlantic cities he
commenced the enquiry for the Rev. Eleazur
vicinity of Green Bay, preaching the Gospe!
to the Indians. AS soon as he ascertatned
this, he started in pursuit OF him. and contln-
ucd to make enquiry after him until he met
him between Mackinaw nnd Green Bny-!hut
| on meeting him he sought an Introduction,
and obtained one through the Captain or the
respect-urged him TO sit at the separate table
of himself and retinue; that he desired pri-
vate interview, and after obtaining one he
among other things disclosed to him the fact
that he was the Dauphin. or In other words,
Louis the 18th; that he entered into minute
detail of the circumstances connected with
the Imprisonment of Louis the 10th. Maria
Antoinette and their child the Dauphin, and
that when he had gotten his feelings wrought
up to the highest pitch Of excitement, he
then made the disclosure referred to; and at
this particular stage lie produced piece OF
parchment, 10 which was affixed the stamp
and seal of Louis the 10Th for his signature,
renouncing his right and title to the Throne
of France After mature dclibcraLion, how
rver. he declined his signature, although large
pccuniary inducements were offered.
Now let US listen for u few moments to the
account given by the Prince OF his interview
with Mr.. Williams He says; ut is very true,
that In voyage he made to the United States
towards the end of the year 1911, finding
himself Mt Mackinaw, he met on board Il
steamboat passenger whose face he thinks
he recognises In the Portrait given IN the
tirely escaped his memory It. will at once bo
perceived, that In this account or the inter-
view with Mr.. Williams, the Prince intends
To say that the meeting was merely acciden-
Reverend gentleman while travelling for other
purposes. New 10: US for brief moment
apply the strait edge 10 the veracily OF these
Mr.. q. :. Raymond, Editor OF the Northern
L:ghf, Ilallowell, Maine, makes the following
statement, dated March lst. 1873: II am ac-
quainted with many OF the circumstances
connected with the Prince de JonvillG,s visit
to Green Bay, his meeting with Mr.. Williams,
&c. having been myself Il fcllOw-passenger
with the Prince during the whole of hi Lake
tour. At that time / was an officer IN the
Brazilian service, and came home to the
United States to visit IL brother then Q resi-
dent of Fort Howard, near Green Bay.
Joined the Joinrilie party In New YORK,
Travelled with 10 10 Green Bay, anu during
several con vcrsations with the Prince heard
him express II most particular anxiety to
find out Mr.. Williams, and have an interfie"
with him. ,
of The Bntuo Cnuuier, makes the following
statement dated March 1, 1853: ain the fall
OF lS4l, took passage on hoard OF steamboat
ut Cleveland, Tor Detroit. The lrlnce oe
Joinvillc and company were ON board. nav
ing come up from Buffalo. While conrerslng
with the la;e Col. Benublcn, he MADE the en-
guiry concerning Mr.. Williams. and spoke of
his ntcntiO OF viSi ting him at Green bay.
The Prince cnquired as to his personal bear
ing, ard asked various general questions con-
ccrnin2 him. and had the appearance OF con-
siderable cnrnostncsS in his enquiries. nave
Il relative who was some years - lcacner IN
the Indun Mission School at Green Bay.
have heard her relate the circumstance OF
this visit of the Prince lie Jolnvi!ie 10 Mr.
Williams us something involving much Oh
mystery, and that il for awhile produced
marked and observable change in the coli !
duet OF Mr.. Williams. i
Can't. Shook the gentleman In command of
the steamer on board Of which he met the .
Rev. Mr.. Williams, says he has Il vivid rccnl-
lection of the whole matter-oi the anxiety
to meet him: of tho introduction Of The
Prince to Mr.. Williams, as he hlmsell per.
formed HE ceremony at the request OF The
Prince; OF the apparent surprise OF the
Prince. and THAI he could not but wonder
why Il Prince should pay such marked respect
TO an unpretcntling Indian Missionary. He
tI,n st ,t ff